Maine Matt Walker State Conservationist Maine Our History

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Maine Matt Walker State Conservationist - Maine

Maine Matt Walker State Conservationist - Maine

Our History

Our History

Our History- Soil & Water

Our History- Soil & Water

Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett’s Philosophy • You can’t do conservation work from behind a

Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett’s Philosophy • You can’t do conservation work from behind a desk or truck windshield • Good science must be the foundation for conservation • Natural resource concerns cannot be treated in isolation • Coordinated action must be focused on a landscape or watershed basis • Local leadership is critical to success

Resource Concerns SWAPA+H+E Soil Water Air Plants Animals Humans Energy

Resource Concerns SWAPA+H+E Soil Water Air Plants Animals Humans Energy

It All Begins with a Conservation Plan • VOLUNTARY, Private Land Conservation • A

It All Begins with a Conservation Plan • VOLUNTARY, Private Land Conservation • A Conservation Plan is a written record of a landowner’s management decisions and the conservation practices and systems they plan to use, develop, and maintain on their farm • Conservation Planning includes 9 steps to help landowners achieve the goals of protecting the environment and their natural resources

NRCS 9 -Step Conservation Planning Process Phase I Collection and Analysis 1. Identify Problems

NRCS 9 -Step Conservation Planning Process Phase I Collection and Analysis 1. Identify Problems 2. Determine Objectives 3. Inventory Resources 4. Analyze Resource Data 5. Formulate Alternatives 6. Evaluate Alternatives 7. Make Decisions 8. Implement the Plan 9. Evaluate the Plan Phase III Application and Evaluation Phase II Decision Support

Ag Water Mgmt Board Topics 1. Technical Assistance 2. Competitive Financial Assistance 1. 2.

Ag Water Mgmt Board Topics 1. Technical Assistance 2. Competitive Financial Assistance 1. 2. 3. Agricultural Management Assistance Environmental Quality Incentives Program Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program 3. Water Development ***All federal actions subject to NEPA***

Technical Assistance • Access to irrigation expertise • • • Begins with Irrigation Water

Technical Assistance • Access to irrigation expertise • • • Begins with Irrigation Water Management Plan Water availability Technical specifications • Water needs • Pump capacity • Pipe size • Sprinkler size • Access to other technical expertise • • • Soil health practices (cover crop, crop rotation, reduced till, etc. ) Water quality practices (grassed waterway, filter strip, etc. ) Conservation practices to address SWAPA + H + E

Agricultural Management Assistance • Primarily new irrigation • $50, 000 annual practice limitation. No

Agricultural Management Assistance • Primarily new irrigation • $50, 000 annual practice limitation. No other payment limitation • Often relies on new water withdrawals • Irrigation reservoirs but practice payment limitation • One year monitoring requirement • All types eligible • Wells? Continuous applications. Batching period late summer/fall. Funding following spring. Contracts 1 -10 years. ~ $0. 9 - $1. 5 million annually

Environmental Quality Incentives Program • • • Flagship program Results in improved irrigation efficiency

Environmental Quality Incentives Program • • • Flagship program Results in improved irrigation efficiency Must have irrigation history • • • $450, 000 per Farm Bill payment limitation Irrigation reservoir eligible, no annual practice payment limitation • • 2 of last 5 years One year monitoring requirement All irrigation types eligible Water development may be possible if 587 -regulated Wells? Continuous applications. Batching Period late summer/fall. Funding following spring. Contracts 1 -10 years. ~ $9 -12 million annually

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program • Flood prevention • Watershed protection • Public

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program • Flood prevention • Watershed protection • Public recreation • Public fish and wildlife • Ag water mgmt • Municipal and industrial water supply • Water quality • Watershed structure rehab

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program • Local Leadership • Planned and implemented jointly

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program • Local Leadership • Planned and implemented jointly by local, state, and federal agencies • Sponsors must be able to: • • • Acquire permits and licenses Levy taxes or provide another means of financing project cost and maintenance Other requirements may apply Continuous applications. ~3 -5 years for project implementation

Wells • Working with partners to develop state policy • Wells must produce identified

Wells • Working with partners to develop state policy • Wells must produce identified capacity to address resource concern for financial assistance

Think Broadly • New opportunities often allow for new planning alternatives • Must meet

Think Broadly • New opportunities often allow for new planning alternatives • Must meet NRCS Conservation Practice Standard • e. FOTG, Section IV Field Office Technical Guide (usda. gov) • Solar pumps often used in the west • Learning opportunity

Contacts • Conservation Planning (Technical Assistance) Tony Jenkins, State Resource Conservationist, tony. jenkins@usda. gov

Contacts • Conservation Planning (Technical Assistance) Tony Jenkins, State Resource Conservationist, tony. jenkins@usda. gov or 207 -990 -9557 • EQIP and AMA (Financial Assistance) Susan Arrants, Assistant State Conservationist, susan. arrants@usda. gov or 207 -990 -9564 • Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program Adam Cattrell, State Conservation Engineer, adam. cattrell@usda. gov or 207 -990 -9555 • Local Service Centers https: //www. nrcs. usda. gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/me/contact/local/

Maine USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Lender and Provider

Maine USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Lender and Provider